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A Self-Taught Guitarist and His Two Worlds
Our small coastal town, La Herradura, is highly appealing to people with artistic talents. The famous Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia left a great cultural heritage, and musicians worldwide often visit. Some settled down here and created life and joy around them. Some days ago, my husband and I bade farewell…
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Last Photos from an Amazing Island with 1000 Volcanoes
The smallest and remotest of the Canary Islands, El Hierro, is, in many ways, the most progressive. Powered by wind and water, the ten thousand residents will soon be self-sufficient in electricity. The goal is for everyone to drive electric cars in a few years. The island is packed with…
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Walking the Lava Path from El Tamaduste to La Fortaleza
My husband and I love to walk in nature. I love trees, and nothing can beat a walk in the forest. Here in El Tamaduste, there are only a few trees. The village is mostly built on volcanic soil and is surrounded by dramatic dark lava formations and some small…
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The Natural Healing of El Tamaduste
In the last two weeks, I have experienced something I never had the opportunity to do before, and if you know a little about Filipino culture, you will understand what a giant step I have taken. My husband and I are now visiting El Tamaduste, a small village by a…
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Landed in El Hierro – The Remotest Part of Canary Islands
We landed in El Hierro and will stay here for three months. It is the smallest of the Canary Islands, located off the coast of North Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. In the old days, it was considered to be the end of the world, and it’s easy to understand…
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Layover in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
It is exciting to visit places for the first time, especially when you discover something that makes you happy. On our way to El Hierro, we had a one-night layover in Las Palmas, the capital city of Gran Canaria. We wanted to experience the feel of a large city before…
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Flamenco y Mas: A Colorful Art Feast in Nerja
One of my acquaintances here in La Herradura, Dutch painter and author Renate van Nijen, has given me an experience beyond the ordinary. Yesterday, she opened a colorful art exhibition in Nerja featuring paintings and sculptures constituting a feminine entirety. Her exhibition is titled Flamenco y Más (Flamenco and More).…
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Music and the Mysteries of the Universe
In the Philippines, classical music is considered an upper-class phenomenon, and it’s hard for the common man to relate to it. I was brought up like most Filipinos: drenched in pop music. When I arrived in Spain, my knowledge of the great classical music tradition in Europe was almost nonexistent.…
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The Struggle of Learning Spanish
Learning a new language can be a real challenge. I have been self-studying Spanish for some months by using some of the overwhelming resources online. Also, a lot of Latin American versions make it more confusing. I really needed some professional guidance, and when a friend from my yoga class…
